PM Modi Flags Off Sant Ravidas Express Linking Varanasi and Chheharta

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express on 17 July 2026, introducing a direct tri-weekly rail connection between Varanasi and Chheharta near Amritsar.




The new service strengthens travel between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, including access between Varanasi and places associated with Guru Ravidas in the Amritsar region. It is expected to serve pilgrims, families, students, workers and business travellers who previously depended on less direct options.




The Chheharta-Varanasi service will operate as train number 14624 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It is scheduled to leave Chheharta at 2.05 pm, halt at Amritsar from 2.25 pm for five minutes, reach Lucknow at 7.30 am the following morning and arrive in Varanasi at 12.15 pm.




In the reverse direction, train number 14623 will depart Varanasi at 7.05 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays. It is scheduled to reach Lucknow at 12.10 am, Amritsar at 4.35 pm and Chheharta at 5.10 pm the next day.




Reported stoppages include Jaunpur City, Sultanpur, Lucknow, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City and Amritsar. Passengers should confirm the final timetable, platform information and booking availability through official railway channels before travelling.




The train is expected to cover a little over 1,048 km with an 18-coach formation. Its schedule gives passengers from Varanasi an overnight journey through Lucknow and western Uttar Pradesh before reaching the Punjab corridor the following afternoon.




The three-services-a-week pattern is useful for planned travel but does not provide a daily option. Families and pilgrims should therefore check the operating day carefully, particularly when arranging onward transport from Chheharta or Amritsar.




The train’s name carries particular significance for followers of Guru Ravidas, whose birthplace at Seer Govardhanpur draws devotees to Varanasi. The direct service also creates another long-distance connection for people travelling between Punjab’s industrial and agricultural centres and the Varanasi region.




Railway passengers should rely on the train number rather than promotional descriptions when searching for tickets. The official government announcement describes it as the Amritsar (Chheharta)-Varanasi train and does not identify it as a Vande Bharat Sleeper service.